Maternal vitamin-D deficiency in Pakistan

Objective of the study. This study was performed to assess the vitamin D status of healthy Pakistani nursing mothers and their breastfed infants. Methods. Seventy-one nursing mothers and their breastfed infants belonging to upper and lower socio-economic class were examined 6 weeks to 11 months after delivery. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D], serum calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase were measured. Results. The mean serum 25(OH)D in mothers was 36.7 ± 32.4 nmol/L and 41.25 ± 35.4 nmol/L in infants. Thirty-four (48%) mothers and 37 (52%) infants had levels less than 25 nmol/L. Significantly higher levels were found in uneducated mothers (p = 0.01), mothers of lower socio-economic class (p < 0.001) and in those living in mud houses (p < 0.001). A significant correlation was found between serum 25(OH)D levels of infants under three months of age and their mothers (p < 0.01). Conclusions. High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was found in nursing mothers and their infants predominantly in the upper socioeconomic class.